the president still faces a slow-growing economy and high unemployment. but there are signs things are turning around. real estate is starting to rebound. and the dow recently hit a five-year high. >> we are poised for a good year. if we make smart decisions and sound investments. and as long as washington politics don't get in the way of america's progress. >> reporter: and now, the man who ran the president's re-election campaign is hoping to reform it into a grassroots army to support the president's agenda for a second term. >> we have hundreds of thousands of neighborhood team members and leaders in every state of the union. we're going to work across party lines to get some things done. >> reporter: four years ago, the president promised to rise above partisan politics. >> on this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and wornout dogmas that strangle our policies. >> reporter: it was a promise unfulfilled, as washington became more divided. this time around, he's going to try to directly appea